Roof-canopy, multi-function roof-canopy supports, and rear-canopy for a golf cart

ABSTRACT

A body-panel golf-cart having multi-functional canopy-supports, a roof-canopy having U-type storage-channels about its periphery, and a lower body-panel. The multi-functional roof-canopy back-supports are either sited in-line with the cart&#39;s structural struts or encompass the structural struts to widen the space between the supports providing an enlarged space between the rear supports for viewing and storage. Roof-canopy and roof-canopy back-supports are formed as a one piece unit with a lower body-panel that extends from the rear-most of cart to under the seat providing a streamlined cart with more storage capacity. Increased roof-canopy storage space offers out-of-the-way positioning of cart&#39;s side protective-enclosure brackets and rollers and out-of-the-way storage of the protective-enclosures when undeployed. Roof-supports offer tight closure for side protective-enclosures and space for cooler and sand and seed box. Rear-canopy is stored in roof-canopy back-supports and space under roof-canopy and secured using magnets. Roof water drains through conduits in roof and supports.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Non-Provisional Application of Provisional Application62/406,643 filed on Oct. 11, 2016.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates generally to open-air vehicles, such asgolf-carts, and, more particularly, to a golf-cart designed with aroof-canopy having extended under-canopy storage space and roof-canopysupports/body-panel that serve multi-functions including rear-canopystorage and space for additional integrated accessories.

BACKGROUND

The background information discussed below is presented to betterillustrate the novelty and usefulness of the present invention. Thisbackground information is not admitted prior art.

The use of open-air carts, often referred to as NEVs (NeighborhoodElectric Vehicles), is growing exponentially. Entire communities arebeing designed to integrate these carts. One example is Peachtree City,Ga., a town of 35,000, where most every family has a low-speed,low-carbon producing vehicle. About 10,000 of these carts are roamingthe 90 miles of cart-compatible paths for people to pick up groceries,take kids to school, and doing all the short trips that make up so muchof our daily driving. Another example is the Villages in Sumter County,Fla., which increased its population of 8,333 at the 2000 census by517.33% census to 51,442 by the 2010 census. Many drivers now refer totheir open-air golf-carts as “their second car” that is used not onlywithin the village, but outside of the village as well, to drive toshopping centers and medical facilities, on nearby highways.

Such open-air carts are now street-legal in at least 45 states, whichmeans that they are driven under a variety of weather conditions rangingfrom very warm to very cold, windy, rainy, and even snowy. Thus,open-air cars typically now come with a canopy and a windshield. Alsoavailable as accessories are side and rear protective-enclosures toshelter the occupants and the interior of the car from the elements,including wind, cold, snow, and rain. Although all currently availablehand-roll enclosures use various means of securing theirprotective-enclosures to the cart, such as by means of either a zipper,hook and loop, snaps or a combination of these, including securing thebottom edge to the cart with snaps or hooks, these attachment means arenot tight. There are gaps between each set of attachment means thatallow wind and elements of the weather to enter the cart. Becausecurrently available protective-enclosures are only available asaccessories, they must be attached to the cart along with the attachmentmeans discussed above.

The type of open-air cart with which the example of this invention isconcerned comes with a roof (also referred to as a canopy or aroof-canopy) to protect both the cart's passengers and the interior ofthe cart from the effects of the elements. In addition to a protectiveroof-canopy, protective-enclosures are added to cover the side openingson a cart, as needed. Most carts include a rear storage compartment usedto hold a golf-bag and clubs, as well as other gear such as sweaterboxes, coolers, and seed boxes. When the rear compartment is designedfor the storage of golf-bags, the rear-canopy protective-enclosure isoften referred to as a bag-cover, with a Club Protector® canopy being aprime example. The rear-canopy can be opened to access the contentscarried in the rear compartment and closed when the cart is not in use.

SUMMARY

The present Inventor realized that by taking advantage of under-utilizedspace in the canopy and redesigning the back roof-canopy supports,multiple innovations could be made. Accordingly, the present Inventor'sinventive concept materialized into the most functional and moststream-lined cart on the market. The concept evolved to produce a fullyfunctional roof-canopy and body-panel concept. The design is unique inthat the under-utilized space of the roof canopy in currently availablecarts is now usable space accomplished by designing the roof-canopy topresent U-type storage channels about its periphery. This isaccomplished by designing the roof-canopy to be either domed, elevatedin another desired manner, or simply having the periphery of theroof-canopy raised so that now there is useful, storage space about allor part of the roof-canopy's periphery. The roof canopy is now supportedon multi-functional roof-canopy back supports that are either sitedin-line with the cart's structural struts or encompass the structuralstruts. Siting the roof-canopy back supports either in-line with thecart's structural struts or encompassing the struts results in wideningthe space between the supports which provides an enlarged space betweenthe rear supports. This increase of space between the roof-canopy backsupports provides for an increase in the size of what is considered therear-window, thus enhancing a driver's rear view and also provides morestorage space for golf-bags and the like.

The inventive principles also include front canopy supports in additionto the newly-designed roof-canopy and multi-function roof-canopy backsupports. The concept fully contemplates, depending on the structuraland stylistic need that the roof-canopy and the roof-canopyback-supports are structural one piece with a lower body-panel thatextends from the rear-most of the cart to under the seat giving acontiguous and streamlined look to the cart. This is accomplished byeither forming the roof-canopy back-supports and lower body-panel as asingle-unit molded piece or by forming the pieces individually andsecuring them to each other once on the cart. As the ability to moldlarger pieces becomes available, the roof, front and back canopysupports, and the body-panel can all be formed as a single unit.

The present Inventor recognized the difficulties encountered when cartpassengers are entering or exiting a currently available cart fittedwith protective-enclosures. One of the problems come from the bracketsthat support the protective-enclosure rollers because they either extenddown or out or both from the cart's roof-canopy posing a hindrance, atbest, and a hazard, at worse, for those entering or exiting the cart.This happens because cart roof-canopies are currently designed to slantdownwards at their edges. This design leaves little room under theroof-canopy for either the hardware required to support and store theenclosures and from the rolled-up enclosures themselves as they protrudedownwards from beneath the edge of the roof-canopy and must be avoidedby those entering or exiting the cart. The inventive design of theroof-canopy eliminates the downward slant of the perimeter edges of theroof-canopy. The perimeter areas of the roof-canopy now are eitherparallel to the horizontal providing for a channel of space beneathperimeter edges of the roof-canopy or, if desired, domed or otherwiseelevated, providing even more space for storage under the periphery ofthe roof-canopy. This increased storage space within the roof-canopyoffers out-of-the-way positioning of the cart's sideprotective-enclosure brackets and rollers and out-of-the-way storage ofthe protective-enclosures when they are not is not in use. Theprotective-enclosures roller supports, which are contemplated to includesupport structures such as brackets or male/female fitting structure,will no longer pose a hindrance or hazard to those who are entering orexiting the cart. Having the protective-enclosure roller and theprotective-enclosures tucked up under the newly designed dome-likecanopy also eliminates the need for the off-the-canopy valences that arecurrently required to cover the undeployed protective-enclosures andtheir supporting structure. If desired, the protective-enclosuresroller's support structure may be a simple receiving aperture formeddirectly in the frame when the roof-canopy/roof-canopy support assemblyis molded.

While currently available protective-enclosures for the driver's andpassenger's sides of carts can some provide protection from theelements; the protection is limited as the enclosures are not held tautacross the openings they cover. When deployed, the side edges of sideprotective-enclosures of currently available carts are attached to thecart using various means, such as snaps, magnets, etc. The gaps betweeneach of these attachment means are very susceptible to the entrance ofwind, snow, and particularly rain. When the enclosure's attachment gapsare lifted away from the cart by ill-fitting attachment means or by thewind, the interior of the cart and thus the occupants are at the mercyof the effects of the weather. This can be especially troublesome whenthe cart is in motion subjecting the protective-enclosures to bothambient and motion-caused wind and rain. To alleviate thisinconvenience, the inventive concept principles extend to using U-stylechannels on a forward facing face of the roof-canopy back supports toprovide grasping means to hold taut side protective-enclosures when theyare deployed. The sides of the side protective-enclosures are treatedwith closure means, such as, in this example, having cabled edges. Thecabled-edges of the side edges of both the front and rear sections ofthe protective-enclosures fit into accepting canopy-support U-channels13 and 42 when the protective-enclosure is deployed to secure theenclosure so that it remains taut while in use. U-channels in thisdesign are integrated into the rear-canopy back supports. Depending onthe structural design of each cart, the U-channels may be placed into aspecial canopy-to-cart piping. The available space made possible by thedesign of the roof-canopy back supports provides for built-inaccessories such as a cooler, sand and seed box, and sweater box withoutsacrificing any golf-bag storage space. The invention also includeroof-canopy drainage channels that direct rain or melt water from theroof-canopy to the ground through conduits built into the roof-canopyback supports. Electrical wiring is also conducted through the cart fromthe space in the body-panels through the roof-canopy back supports, ifdesired within the serviceable space under the roof-canopy.

The present Inventor further recognized that while there arerear-canopies protect the golf clubs and other rear accessories of agolf cart, there is no protection for an undeployed rear-canopies. Itcan be appreciated that when the canopy is in its undeployed position,the folds of the canopy fold downward and inward, analogous to thefolding of the material of an umbrella when it is closed. However, thefolds that are exposed on the upper end of the folded canopy andespecially the spaces between the horizontally positioned folds areprone to collection of various sorts of debris and insects while theends of the folds that are exposed to the environment are subject to thewearing effects of the sun and ambient moisture. The present inventiveconcept presents a built-in protective storage space for undeployedrear-canopies. On the rear-ward facing side of each of the roof-canopyback supports there is a U-channel. Complementing and connecting to thetwo U-channels on the roof-canopy back supports is a space under theroof-canopy. Together these three spaces provide a storage area for theundeployed accordion-folding rear-canopy. Securing the rear-canopy inits storage area is one or more magnets on a rear surface of theroof-canopy. Another magnet is positioned on the lower bar of theaccordion-folding rear-canopy so that once the rear-canopy is folded-upinto its undeployed position, the two magnets act together to securelyhold the rear-canopy in place. Currently available rear-canopies aresecured in their undeployed, folded-up condition by means of a hook andloop-type fasteners. Hook and loop fasteners tend to collect bits ofdebris which eventually limits their usefulness. They also can rubagainst the material of the rear-canopy which causes wear. Snaps arealso used by some currently available canopy styles to secure them whilein their undeployed position. The present invention, differs however, inthat it is uses a canopy handle/latch that, in the example described,includes a magnet on the rear-canopy and either a mating magnet on theroof-canopy or the metal of the roof-canopy structure to keep therear-canopy securely closed and another magnet on the flap of the roofcanopy that when folded up over the deployed rear-canopy mates witheither a magnet on the roof-canopy or on a slip-on roof-cap that isfound on some currently available carts. Magnets do not wear out as dohook and loop fasteners and snaps. They also do not harm the cloth ofthe canopy as can hook and loop fasteners and snaps. It should beunderstood, that although a magnetic handle/latch is used as an example,it should not limit the claims as other types of latch closure devicesare contemplated as well, including only a handle with no latch. Infact, any latch device that will perform the desired function iscontemplated, such as a detent, where the detent is on the canopy barand the mating part on the roof cap or canopy, depending on the model ofthe cart. That latch could also be a deadbolt latch, a friction latch,spring latches, slam latch, cam lock, Norfolk latch, Suffolk latch,crossbar, cabin hook, or a toggle latch, for example. It must be furtherbe understood that the latch could depend on gravity alone, as when thebottom hinge of the canopy is brought out a bit, then the canopy wouldautomatically, due to gravity lean in a position that would keep itgravitationally stable. In the cases where a latch mechanism is notrequired, a handle would still be contemplated to assist a user inopening the canopy. In the example of the canopy illustrated here, theflap that hangs from the rear canopy is tucked into the storage spacealong with the canopy when the rear-canopy is undeployed. Alternative,the flap us stowed under the undeployed rear-canopy. This isaccomplished by using mating magnetic fasteners that provide theadvantages of being unlikely under normal circumstance to lose theirmagnetic force, do not rust, and do not negatively affect either thecanopy cover or the canopy flap. In this example, one magnetic fasteneris sewn into the driver's side area of flap and another magneticfastener is sewn into the passenger's side area of flap so that when theflap is tucked under the canopy the two magnets will mate with the metalof the roof-canopy frame. With the flap stowed out of sight the area ofunobstructed vision out of the rear cart is greatly increased. Moreover,when flap is lifted and stowed, it eases removal of golf clubs from thestorage space for golf clubs or of any other items stowed in sweaterbasket area and having the flap stowed, protects the flap from the wearand tear it can suffer when items are being removed from the rearstorage area.

Still other benefits and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding thefollowing detailed specification and related drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that these and other objects, features, and advantages of thepresent invention may be more fully comprehended and appreciated, theinvention will now be described, by way of example, with reference tospecific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in appended drawingswherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral figures. It should be understood that these drawings only depictpreferred embodiments of the present invention and are not therefore tobe considered limiting in scope, thus, the invention will be describedand explained with additional specificity and detail through the use ofthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of a cartroof-canopy, front and rear roof-canopy supports, protective-enclosurerollers with pull chains, canopy drains, and a bag-cover.

FIG. 2 is a ¾ perspective rear view of a cart with its rear-canopybag-cover stowed.

FIG. 3 is a ¾ perspective rear view of a cart with its rear-canopybag-cover open for use.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of a cart with its rear-canopy bag-coverstowed.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a cart with its protective-enclosuredeployed using an exemplar cable system with a pull-chain near frontwindshield.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a cart with protective-enclosurespartially deployed using an exemplar cable system with a pull-chain nearrear windshield.

FIG. 7 is a ¾ perspective rear view of an exemplar cart following theprinciples of the current invention.

A LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS AND PARTS TO WHICH THEY REFER

-   6 Under the canopy protective-enclosure storage space.-   8 Roof-canopy.-   10 Open-air cart.-   12 Multi-function roof-canopy rear-supports, upper body-panel    section.-   13 U-channel to hold rear-edge of protective-enclosure.-   14 Lower portion of rear roof-canopy-support 12.-   15 Upper portion of rear-canopy-support 12.-   16 Drainage channel of rear roof-canopy-support 12.-   17 Drainage channel opening on roof-canopy 8.-   18 Sand and seed box.-   20 Cooler.-   22 Roller for deploying/undeploying protective-enclosure 24.-   24 Protective-enclosure.-   24 _(F) Protective-enclosure front-section.-   24 _(R) Protective-enclosure rear-section.-   26 Rear pull-chain for deploying/undeploying protective-enclosure    24.-   28 Cable on edge of protective-enclosure 24.-   30 Rear-canopy (bag cover).-   31 Storage space for sides edges of rear-canopy 30.-   32 Handle/clasp on rear-canopy.-   33 Mating handle/clasp on cart frame or on roof cap.-   35 Storage space for rear-canopy.-   38 Roof-canopy rear light.-   40 Front roof-canopy-support structure.-   42 U-channel to hold front edge of protective-enclosure.-   44 Front pull-chain for deploying/undeploying protective-enclosure    24.-   48 Bottom body-panel section-   50 Bag storage area.-   52 Additional storage area.-   54 Lower rear brake light.-   56 Protective flap of rear-canopy 30.-   58 Golf-bag support surface.-   60 Sweater basket area.-   62 Connectors to connect bottom edge of protective-enclosure to    cart.-   64 Zipper closure between front and rear protective-enclosure    section.-   66 Rear-side edge of rear section 24 _(R).-   68 Front-side edge of front section 24 _(F)

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.In certain instances, details which are not necessary for anunderstanding of the present invention or which render other detailsdifficult to perceive may have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now, with more particularity, to the drawings, it should benoted that the disclosed invention is disposed to embodiments in varioussizes, shapes, and forms, many of which will be discussed in some detailbelow. Therefore, the embodiments described herein are provided with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is intended as illustrativeand is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments describedherein.

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 illustrate one example of acustom-designed body-panel roof-canopy 8 and roof-canopymulti-functional supports 12 and 40 following the inventive principles.Roof-canopy 8, roof-canopy back-supports 12, and bottom body-panel 48are contemplated as a one-piece structure, referred to as a body-paneldesign which is formed either as single molded piece or formed inmultiple pieces attached to each other on the cart, to provide a sleekaerodynamic look to the cart. Alternatively and depending on the styleof the cart in question, either one of or both the roof-canopy 8 androof-canopy back-supports 12 sections may be added to a cart. Theroof-canopy/roof-canopy support structure also could be molded as asingle-piece unit. According to the inventive principles, roof-canopy 8offers previously under-utilized space that is offered either has achanneled space under the roof made possible by the roof-canopy designthat has its perimeter area uplifted to form wide C-channels about itsperimeter, or alternatively the entire roof-canopy is domed furtherenhancing the amount of useful space, or is otherwise elevated wheredesired, providing dedicated out-of-the-way storage space 6 for itemssuch as, protective-enclosures 24 (as illustrated in FIG. 5) when theyare undeployed, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The inventive principles alsoprovide for dedicated out-of-the-way storage space under the elevatedroof-canopy 8 for the mounting structure (not shown) ofprotective-enclosures 24. One example of such mounting structure isbrackets that can now be located under the canopy out of the way of auser's ingress or egress from the cart. In currently available carts, hebrackets that support the protective-enclosure rollers, because theyeither extend down from the cart's roof-canopy, or out from the cart'sroof-canopy, or both pose a hindrance, at best, and a hazard, at worse,for those entering or exiting the cart. This happens because availablecart roof-canopies are currently designed to slant downwards at theiredges. This design leaves little room under the roof-canopy for eitherthe hardware required to support and store the enclosures and from therolled-up enclosures themselves as they protrude downwards from beneaththe edge of the roof-canopy and must be avoided by those entering orexiting the cart. The inventive design of the roof-canopy eliminates thedownward slant of the perimeter edges of the roof-canopy. The perimeterareas of the roof-canopy now are either parallel to the horizontalproviding for a channel of space beneath perimeter edges of theroof-canopy or, if desired, domed or otherwise elevated, providing evenmore space for storage under the periphery of the roof-canopy. Thisincreased storage space within the roof-canopy offers out-of-the-waypositioning of the cart's side protective-enclosure brackets and rollersand out-of-the-way storage of the protective-enclosures when they arenot is not in use. The protective-enclosures roller supports, which arecontemplated to include support structures such as brackets ormale/female fitting structure, will no longer pose a hindrance or hazardto those who are entering or exiting the cart. Having theprotective-enclosure roller and the protective-enclosures tucked upunder the newly designed dome-like canopy also eliminates the need forthe off-the-canopy valences that are currently required to cover theundeployed protective-enclosures and their supporting structure.Optionally, protective-enclosure 24 mounting structure is an aperturewithin the underside of the roof-canopy structure for receiving matingsupport hardware of protective-enclosure support rollers 22. It is to beappreciated that regardless of which type of mounting structure ischosen, the importance of this innovation is that no mounting structureprotrudes out of or down from under roof-canopy 8 as do the brackets andmounting structure on currently available carts. The roof-canopy issupported on the multi-functional roof-canopy back supports that aresited either in-line with the cart's structural struts or encompass thestructural struts. Siting roof-canopy back supports 12 either in-linewith the cart's structural struts or having roof-canopy back supports 12encompassing the struts results in widening the space between thesupports which provides an enlarged space between the supports. Thisincrease of space between the roof-canopy back supports provides for anincrease in the size of what is considered the rear-window, thusenhancing a driver's rear view and also provides more storage space forgolf-bags and the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates a functional roof-canopy, roof-canopy back-support,rear-canopy body-panel assemblage. FIG. 1 illustrates the driver's andpassenger's side pull chains 26, that are used to deploy and undeployprotective-enclosures 24, before they are housed in upper section 15 ofroof-canopy back supports 12 as Illustrated in FIG. 2. Deployedprotective-enclosures 24 are illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Deployedprotective-enclosures 24 are undeployed, in this example, by manuallyrolling and unrolling driver's and passenger's side rollers 22 to whichthe protective-enclosures are respectively attached. The rollingmechanism in the illustrated example is manual, but it is to beunderstood that rolling mechanisms also are available as a powereddevice and is available in the present invention. In FIG. 5 pull chain44 is illustrated in the side-front of the cart. Looking at FIG. 6 itcan be appreciated that passenger's side protective-enclosure 24 isprovided in two sections, front section 24 _(F) and rear section 24 _(R)connected to each other, in this example, by zipper closure 64. Notshown, but is to be appreciated, is that the driver's sideprotective-enclosure, in this example, is constructed in the samemanner. Although, front section 24 _(F) and rear section 24 _(R) areconnected or disconnected, in this example, using zipper 64, othermethods to connect and disconnect the two protective-enclosure sectionsare contemplated in the present inventive principles, such as, snaps,hook and loop or magnetic systems, for example.

When deployed, the side edges of side protective-enclosures of currentlyavailable carts are attached to the cart using various means, such assnaps, magnets, etc. The gaps between each of these attachment means arevery susceptible to the entrance of wind, snow, and particularly rain.When the enclosure's attachment gaps are lifted away from the cart byill-fitting attachment means or by the wind, the interior of the cartand thus the occupants are at the mercy of the effects of the weather.This can be especially troublesome when the cart is in motion subjectingthe protective-enclosures to both ambient and motion-caused wind andrain. To alleviate this inconvenience, the inventive concept principlesextend to using U-style channels on a forward facing face of theroof-canopy back supports to provide grasping means to hold taut sideprotective-enclosures when they are deployed. FIG. 1 illustrates thisprocess; the rear-side edge 66 of rear section 24 _(R) ofprotective-enclosures 24 and the front-side edge 68 of front section 24_(F) (see FIG. 5) are edge-treated by, in this example, having cablededges 28 that are illustrated as stand-alone cables. Cabled-edges 28 ofboth the front and rear sections of the protective-enclosures fit intocanopy-support U-channels 13 and 42 (indicated in FIG. 6) as theprotective-enclosure is deployed and secures the enclosure so that itremains taut while in use. U-channels 13 and 42 in this design areintegrated into canopy-supports 12 and 40, respectively, as illustratedin FIG. 6. Depending on the structural design of each cart, theU-channels may be placed into a special canopy-to-cart piping.Protective enclosure 24 partially deployed and secured with itcabled-edges held by rear U-channel 13 of canopy support 12 and withcanopy roller pull chain 42 situated in the front roof support of thecart are illustrated in FIG. 6. Note that is this example, theroof-canopy back supports 12 are structured to be in-line with the rearroof support struts of the cart. FIG. 5 illustrates the cart with itsprotective enclosure 24 fully deployed and with the edge-treatedrear-side edge 66 of rear section 24 _(R) of protective-enclosures 24and the edge-treated front-side edge 68 of front section 24 _(F)securely positioned within U-channels 13 and 42, respectively to be heldtaut against cart 10 while the enclosures are deployed. If desired, thebottom-most portion of protective-enclosure 24 is secured to the cartby, in this example, either snaps or magnets 62.

Rear-canopy 30, also referred to as a bag cover, provides protectionfrom the elements for golf-bags and their contents but, the presentInventor recognized that while the rear-canopies protect the golf-clubsand other rear accessories of a golf cart, there is no protection for anundeployed rear-canopies. The present inventive concept presents abuilt-in protective storage space for undeployed rear-canopies. Rearcanopy 30 is illustrated in its stored position in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7. Onthe rear-ward facing side of each of the roof-canopy back supports thereis a roof-canopy storage U-channel 31 that accommodates the verticalsides undeployed rear-canopy 30. Complementing and connecting to the twoU-channels on the roof-canopy back supports is a space under theroof-canopy 35 that accommodates the horizontal side of undeployedrear-canopy 30. Together, then, these three spaces provide storage areafor the undeployed accordion-folding rear-canopy. Securing rear-canopy30 in its storage area is a handle latch, which in this example is amagnetic latch. One or more magnets 33 are positioned on a rear surfaceof the roof-canopy or the frame of the cart or the magnetic metal may bepart of the cart's structure. Another magnet 32 is positioned on thelower bar of the accordion-folding rear-canopy so that once therear-canopy is folded-up into its undeployed position, the two magnetsact together to securely hold the rear-canopy in place. As described inthe Summary Section above, the handle/latch need not be magnetic and mayeven be just a handle and not a latch if securing the read-canopy in itsclosed position is accomplished without a latch. Currently availablerear-canopies are secured in their undeployed, folded-up condition bymeans of a hook and loop-type fasteners. Hook and loop fasteners tend tocollect bits of debris which eventually limits their usefulness. Theyalso can rub against the material of the rear-canopy which causes wear.Snaps are also used by some currently available canopy styles to securethem while in their undeployed position. The present invention, differshowever, in that it is uses magnetic canopy closures including a magneton the rear-canopy and either a mating magnet on the roof-canopy or themetal of the roof-canopy structure to keep the rear-canopy securelyclosed. Magnets do not wear out as do hook and loop fasteners and snaps.They also do not harm the cloth of the canopy as can hook and loopfasteners and snaps.

In the example illustrated, rear-canopy 30, is attached to rear-canopysupports 12 by pivotable attachments in accepting devices 36 (see FIG.2). It should be understood that any means used to attach therear-canopy to the cart is contemplated by the present invention as longas it performs the required functions. Rear-canopy (bag covers) 30 istypically folded closed in some fashion when it is not being and openedwhen needed for their protective function. Another important featureprovided by the presently customized design of roof-canopy 8 andmulti-function roof-canopy supports 12, and not provided by anycurrently available cart, is the greatly increased width and height ofthe viewing area of the rear window when rear-canopy (bag cover) 30 isundeployed (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). When rear-canopy 30 is undeployed(see FIGS. 2, 4 and 7) the rear window viewing area is significantlyincreased over any currently available cart. This feature increases thesafety of the occupants of the cart as the driver now has a greatlyenhanced rear window viewing space.

In the example of the canopy illustrated here, flap 56 is structurallypart of roof-canopy 30. Flap 56 provides protection for the contents ofstorage area 50. In the example of the canopy illustrated here, flap 56that hangs from the lower bar of accordion-style folding rear-canopy 30is tucked into the canopy's storage space along with the canopy when therear-canopy is undeployed. Alternative, if fitting the flap withincanopy's storage space is not desired, it is stowed under the undeployedrear-canopy. This is accomplished by using mating magnetic fastenersthat provide the advantages of being unlikely under normal circumstanceto lose their magnetic force, do not rust, and do not negatively affecteither the canopy cover or the canopy flap. In this example, onemagnetic fastener is sewn into the driver's side area of flap andanother magnetic fastener is sewn into the passenger's side area of flapso that when the flap is tucked under the canopy the two magnets willmate with the metal of the roof-canopy frame. With the flap stowed outof sight the area of unobstructed vision out of the rear cart is greatlyincreased. Moreover, when flap 56 is lifted and stowed, it eases removalof golf clubs from the storage space 50 for golf clubs or of any otheritems stowed in sweater basket area 60 and having flap 56 stowed,protects the flap from the wear and tear it can suffer when items arebeing removed from the rear storage area.

The increased distance between rear-canopy supports 12, additionally,provides extra storage area, which in the example illustrated providesroom for amenities such as sand and seed box 18 and cooler 20 within thelower portion 14 of canopy supports 12, with additional space that alsocan be utilized as a sweater or other storage space 52 without any lossof golf-bag support space 50. Such features, as a seed-box and cooler,are provided either as built-ins or as features to be added at a laterdate. The uniquely designed rear-canopy supports 12 include drainchannels 16 with drainage openings 17 located on roof-canopy 8 providinga through-way for water on the roof-canopy to drain through channels 16.On the rear end of roof-canopy 8 there are optional lights 38 (see FIG.2) and magnetic closure latch 33 (see FIG. 2) that accepts matingclosure latch 32 (see FIG. 2) on rear-canopy 30 when rear-canopy 30 isundeployed. As discussed, above, magnetic latches provide the advantageof being unlikely under normal circumstance to lose their magneticforce, do not rust, and do not negatively affect the bag-cover. Notillustrated in FIG. 1 is any electronic wiring that may be needed forcanopy accessories such as canopy lights 38 and, if desired, for apowered mechanism for undeploying and deploying the protective-enclosureand the bag-cover.

Roof-canopy 8 and canopy-supports 12 and 40 are contemplated to beconstructed of sheet steel, aluminum, and plastic or fiber glass. Ifsheet metal is used the metal is cut to size in a sheet metal shear, amachine that cuts it with giant scissors. It is then fed into a rollforming machine, which shapes the metal by passing it over contouredforming rolls. If fiber glass is the chosen material, the canopy ismanufactured in one piece by inserting layers of resin-coated fiberglass in a mold and allowing them to harden. U-channels 13 and 42, inthe illustrated design, are integrated into canopy-supports 12 and 40 toaccept the cabled-edges of protective-enclosures 24. However, dependingon design requirements for other carts, the U-channels may be situatedinto a special canopy-to-cart piping or panel. A cart having roof-canopy8 and rear-canopy 30 is thus formed with a streamlined structure havinga seamless aerodynamically shaped canopy line, as is illustrated in FIG.7.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, uses specificand defined nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of theinvention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe specific details are not required in order to practice theinvention. Thus, the foregoing description of the specific embodiment ispresented for purposes of illustration and description and is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes maybe made to the features, embodiments, and methods, as described above,of making the embodiments of the invention described herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, it iswithin the invention concept and invention principle to include all thevariations, methods, modifications, and combinations of features withinthe scope of the appended claims. The invention is limited only by theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-functional body-panel golf-cart,comprising: a roof-canopy having a canopy perimeter area, roof-canopyback supports, side protective-enclosures, rollers, brackets, saidroof-canopy having roof-canopy storage channels under said roof canopy'sperimeter area, said side protective-enclosures supported on saidrollers attached to said golf-cart within said storage channels by saidbrackets or by receiving apertures, said storage channels shielding saidrollers, said brackets and said side protective-enclosures causing themnot to extend beyond or below said roof-canopy providing for hazard freeentering into or exiting from the golf-cart and eliminating the need forroof-canopy valances.
 2. The multi-functional body-panel golf-cart, asrecited in claim 1 having a rear-most section and a seat, wherein eachof said roof-canopy back supports is supported on a body panel thatextends from the rearmost of the golf-cart to under the seat.
 3. Themulti-functional body-panel golf-cart, as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid rear roof-canopy supports are in-line with, encompass, or share thefunction of rear structural struts of said golf-cart providing anenlarged space between the roof-canopy back-supports imparting anincrease in a viewing area and for built-in accessories while stillproviding space for golf-bags.
 4. The multi-functional body-panelgolf-cart, as recited in claim 2, wherein said roof-canopy supportsinclude vertically oriented front U-channels to grip corresponding edgesof deployed said protective-enclosures assuring secure closure of saidprotective-enclosures.
 5. The multi-functional body-panel golf-cart, asrecited in claim 2, further comprising said roof-canopy and saidroof-canopy supports formed as a single unit.
 6. The multi-functionalbody-panel golf-cart, as recited in claim 2, further comprising saidroof-canopy and said roof-canopy supports formed as separate units. 7.The multi-functional body panel golf-cart, as recited in claim 2,further comprising said roof-canopy, said roof-canopy supports and saidbody panel are formed as a single unit.
 8. The multi-functionalbody-panel golf-cart, as recited in claim 1 wherein said golf-cart has arear-golf-cart area, wherein said roof canopy further comprises arear-canopy providing protection for the rear-golf-cart area whendeployed.
 9. The multi-functional body-panel golf-cart, as recited inclaim 8, wherein said rear canopy is stored when undeployed withinrear-U-channels of each of said roof-canopy back supports and a spaceunder a rear perimeter section of said roof-canopy contiguous with saidrear-U-channels.
 10. The multi-functional body-panel golf-cart, asrecited in claim 9, wherein said rear canopy is secured in its storageposition by a handle/latch.
 11. The multi-functional body-panelgolf-cart, as recited in claim 10, wherein said handle/latch comprises amagnet closure that includes a magnet on the roof-canopy or frame of thecart and a mating magnet mounted on said rear-canopy.
 12. Themulti-functional body-panel golf-cart, as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid roof canopy has an aperture causing water to drain from theroof-canopy to the ground through a drainage channel within each of saidroof-canopy back supports.
 13. A multi-functional body-panel golf-cart,comprising: a roof-canopy having a canopy perimeter area, roof-canopyfront supports, roof-canopy back supports, side protective-enclosures,rollers, brackets, said roof-canopy having roof-canopy storage channelsunder said roof canopy's perimeter area, said side protective-enclosuressupported on said rollers attached to said golf-cart within said storagechannels by said brackets or by receiving apertures, said storagechannels shielding said rollers, said brackets and said sideprotective-enclosures causing them not to extend beyond or below saidroof-canopy providing for hazard free entering into or exiting from thegolf-cart and eliminating the need for roof-canopy valances.
 14. Amulti-functional body-panel golf-cart, comprising: a roof-canopy havinga canopy perimeter area, a rear-canopy, and roof-canopy back supportswherein said rear canopy is stored when undeployed withinrear-U-channels of each of said roof-canopy back supports and a spaceunder a rear perimeter section of said roof-canopy contiguous with saidrear-U-channels.
 15. The multi-functional body-panel golf-cart, asrecited in claim 14, wherein said roof canopy further comprises havingroof-canopy storage channels under said roof canopy's perimeter area.16. The multi-functional body-panel golf-cart, as recited in claim 14,wherein said canopy back supports each have a lower portion whichprovide a storage area.
 17. The multi-functional body-panel golf-cart,as recited in claim 16, wherein said rear canopy is secured in itsstorage position by a magnet closure.
 18. The multi-functionalbody-panel golf-cart, as recited in claim 17, wherein said magnetclosure comprises a magnet on the roof-canopy and a mating magnetmounted on said rear-canopy.
 19. The multi-functional body-panelgolf-cart, as recited in claim 18, further comprising rear roof-canopysupports which are in-line with, encompass, or share the function ofrear structural struts of said golf-cart providing an enlarged spacebetween the roof-canopy back-supports imparting an increase in a viewingarea and for built-in accessories while still providing space forgolf-bags.
 20. The multi-functional body-panel golf-cart, as recited inclaim 19, further comprising protective-enclosures; and wherein saidroof canopy supports include vertically oriented front U-channels togrip corresponding edges of deployed said protective-enclosures assuringsecure closure of said protective-enclosures.